luvtravel88

We applied for our Australia and NZ visas today. It was a relatively quick process and we were approved for both within minutes.

We received a letter for each that we had been approved, but there was nothing to download to show approval.

Are the visas attached to our passport, so when they're scanned they'll see we have visas? I'm assuming that when we arrive into Australia, we'll go through a passport/immigration control and will have our passport scanned and they'll see we have a visa and when we get off the ship for our ports on our cruise in New Zealand, we'll go through some sort of control where they'll scan our passport to be sure we have a visa. Are my assumptions correct?

Thanks!

We are doing a tour with Taste the Barossa. They have been great to work with and they customized a tour for us that will pick us up and drop us off at the port.

3 hours ago, PoppyVelvet said:

I’m Australian so keep in mind it may be different to be a returning citizen than a visiting American, but I never take medications in or out or anywhere I’ve been for that matter, nor do I carry a doctor’s letter or the prescriptions and I’ve never had any trouble. I’ve entered Australia, USA, UK, Germany, Japan, Singapore with both OTC and prescriptions medications.

 

In Australia domestically there are no liquids restrictions but some airports require aerosols to be taken out of your carry on and put in a tray to go through the scanner. 

Thank you!

On 5/25/2024 at 4:38 PM, Carol28 said:

Not mine.  Do you think what I described is good enough? Once you are in Australia, are you going to re-distribute your meds into a daily case?  I really have too many, taken at different times.  Nothing too extraordinary, just allergy, asthma, Gerd stuff and vitamins.  And what will you do with the vitamins.  We are getting to know each other pretty well!

Yes. Once we get to Australia, I plan to re-distribute to a daily med case. I also take stuff at different times of the day. I'm just going to put vitamins in those baggies and just write on the baggie what they are. If they happen to be taken, I can just go buy more of those in Sydney. We might be over thinking this! And yes, we're getting to know each other!!

We have already been talking about making a list of items that we're going to buy once we get to Australia that we don't have to add as weight in our suitcases.

18 minutes ago, Carol28 said:

Hi! What I did is fill out a form at my drug store (which is a Publix supermarket) and they printed a form of all my medications within a time framework and it can be any date you select.  Mine is actually too long because I started it from last year and many meds are just repeated.  In any case, I just put the list in an outside pocket of my carryone.

I spoke to my Dr. this week. They are going to print out a list of my meds to take with me. I will print Rx labels from our pharmacy, which are on the website and put those onto medication baggies that I have purchased from Amazon. The baggies will have original pharmacy labels on them.

On 5/21/2024 at 3:58 PM, Free2bMeForever said:

I flew into SYD from the US in early April and spent about 10 days in Uluru and Cairns prior to boarding my cruise. I also have several prescription medications, but never had to show any of the medication or prescriptions going through customs or immigration. I would advise you to read the carry on requirements for domestic flights, however.  I was quite surprised to read what is considered a “liquid” and although there is no quantity restriction on domestic flights, there seems to be a requirement for a “clear” bag for such items and medications.

Thanks!

On 5/21/2024 at 10:11 PM, possum52 said:

Why do you think going through customs in Sydney can be difficult? As long as your medications are in their original packaging, you should be fine. We also always carry a printed list of prescribed medications that our doctor provides for us. You don't need a copy of the prescription. This link may help - 

Travelling into Australia with Medications.

 

Don't forget to carry them in your carry on luggage. 

 

This link may help with what Free2bMeForeve mentioned in their post above - 

Powders, Liquids, Aerosols and Gels

Thanks!

We are doing 3 B2B cruises as well as spending 10 days traveling in Australia before boarding our ship. We are both on several different prescription medications. I know going through customs when we land in Sydney can be difficult and want to be sure we're doing everything correctly as it applies to bringing in our medicines.

We will have everything in a bag or bottle with a pharmacy label but is this enough? Do I need to get a paper Rx for each prescription from my Dr. to carry on with us?

Thanks for the help!!

If your cruise isn't until 2026, you might not be able to reserve yet. Those reservations usually open up about 14 months before, but you could start checking.

You can use the app or bring up the Celebrity website on your device. I like to use my laptop as it's so easy to see everything. Sign in and click on Plan My Cruise and then click on dining. You will then be able to see if you can make reservations yet.

If you are on an E class ship, you will have 4 dining rooms to choose from. You can choose to eat in one, where you can order from all 4 menus, or you can pick and choose to go to different restaurants.

There is a pro, to choose the same restaurant in that you will likely get the same wait staff every night and they learn what you like really quickly. An example is that the first night I ordered an ice tea and thereafter, ice tea came out to me almost as soon as I sat down.

We get bored and like to feel like we're going to different restaurants so we choose to mix it up. Personal preference.

3 hours ago, GreenDice said:

I might have misunderstood Anytime Dining. You can do walk-up anytime but you can reserve as well. Are you saying that these reservations will not be honored? I thought they will hold the table for us at the reserved time so that I don't have to wait with the walk-up crowd. Confused.

They will honor your reservation. We have never had to wait when we've had a reservation. You do have to wait in line to check in each night, but they'll take you right back to your table.

1 hour ago, mahdnc said:

 

Yorkey's Knob, Jan 2018

 

 

We took the GBR cruise back in Jan 2018, so my information is a bit dated.  When Solstice overnighted at Yorkey's Knob (Cairns), the last tender from ashore was scheduled to leave at 10:30 pm local time.  Tendering was then scheduled to resume at 7:30 am the following morning.

 

However there were passengers like my family that had made independent arrangements at Cairns and we needed to be off the ship early in order to be there on time.  So with little announcement/advertising, Celebrity arranged for a couple of very early tenders to get us off the ship.  No guarantees that you will see that arrangement on your cruise, but you should inquire if this is of value to you.

 

Hopefully for you, the tender/shuttle schedule is what Jim posted earlier.

 

 

If you are interested, here is link to the folder of all the Celebrity Todays that were issued during our 12 night GBR sailing.  Also I published a photo review of our cruise that has some information that may be useful for planning even though it is dated and on a different class of ship.

Thank you!!

Kim

We have an over night in Cairns which is tendering in Yorkey's Knob. Would anyone happen to know what time the ship will begin tendering passengers to shore on the second day?

Thanks!!

We have an overnight in Cairns, which is tendering in Yorkey's Knob. Would anyone happen to know what time the tenders will begin transporting people to shore on the morning of the second day we're there?

Thanks!!

Thank you for your help!

We will be on the Celebrity Edge from March 3 - April 5, 2025. All are Australia and NZ cruises, round trip from Sydney.

I'm carefully planning shore excursions for all of our ports. Tenders will take time but we are also several miles away from the city centers even when docked and will have to take shuttles into town.

Kim

We will be on our first Celebrity cruise since reaching elite status.

One of our benefits is priority tender service at tender ports of call. We are doing 3 B2B and have several tender ports.

My understanding is that we will not need to get tender tickets since we are elite. Is this correct?

Do we just go to where the tender boats are and get on?

Also, we have complimentary access to the Persian Garden on one port day. How do we use this? Do we just show up to the spa with our sea pass card or do we need to make a reservation prior, just telling them we have elite status?

Thanks for the help!!

Kim

3 hours ago, tashaaa said:

Thank you all for the responses. 
I still need to think about all the options. We decided that for the first time visiting Australia and New Zealand, we do it on cruise. I know we will see just a little of both, but I think we can make a nice vacation.. 

Maybe there will be some more cruises listed if we do it at the end of 2025. 
I heard that maybe Azamara cruise can be a good one. Only worry that the ships are smaller and the Tasman Sea can be bumpy. 
 

 

We are doing 3 back to back cruises on Celebrity beginning March 3, 2025. The first goes south to wine country and is 9 nights, the second is around NZ and is 13 nights and the third goes up the east coast of Australia to Brisbane, Cairns, Port Douglas and Airlie Beach and is 10 nights.

All are round trip Sydney. You could choose 2 of the three for your 3 week vacation. Prices are reasonable and it's one of their newer ships, the Edge.

Still a tipping question but of a different sort....

I want to give my cabin steward a bit above what my pre-paid gratuities will provide. Should I give additional money in Australian Dollars, NZ Dollars or US Dollars?

Thanks!

19 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

9:30 AM and coming into ChristChurch Harbor.  
 

 

What an absolutely gorgeous picture! You have a winner here!!

4 hours ago, Jim_Iain said:

Yes I bring my own Firestick and put in one of the HDMI.    You can either use my video to select HDMI or at least on this ship Channel 100 on live TV takes you to the HDMI port

 

it is like home. You can have live tv or use Roku or Firestock. 
 

We have YouTube TV so we can watch all our live and recorded SF channels. 

Thank you so much for the info.

We'll be on the ship 33 days and to have news other than BBC International would be wonderful. We also have YouTubeTV and it would be great to be able to use it!

Kim

Hi Jim,

I'm enjoying following your trip! We're doing a B2B2B in March 2025 all round trip from Sydney.

I have a question....

You mentioned that your TV had a fire stick on it so you weren't get Celebrity messages. I've never heard of anyone doing that. Did you bring it with you? What channels do you get on it? Is it easy to attach and remove?

Thanks!

Kim

14 hours ago, possum52 said:

The Little National and QT Sydney are both in the CBD (central business district and close to public transport. The Darling is not in the CBD but at Pyrmont which is the western side of Darling Harbour, so not as convenient as the other two hotels. I haven't stayed at any of them but have stayed at hotels close by to the Little National and QT.

Thank you! I appreciate your vast knowledge on the area. You've helped a lot of people with their planning!

Kim

Would anyone care to comment on Little National Hotel, QT Sydney or The Darling? All 3 are top 10 on tripadvisor but I wondered about their location. We will be there several days, pre-cruise.

Thanks for the input!

Thanks for the advice!

Kim

Ww will have one day in Tasmania and are having trouble deciding which place to sightsee. The Richmond tour includes a drive to Mt. Wellington, a visit to Richmond and to the Bonorong Wildlife Park. The tour to Port Arthur visits several sights on the Peninsula.

Thanks for any advice.

If you're interested in Gaudi, Casa Batllo is a wonderful house to visit. Also the Picasso museum in Bario Gotic is also fantastic. The Picasso Museum is right across the square from the Cathedral.